Poem by a Cat

I awake for they return from their hunt

I sense the stirring of our kingdom

The ground shakes

The chains churn and pull to lift the gate

Let in the tamed metal beast

I run to the door to great my peer

In their stead none stood to lay claim

All who challenged cowered or fell by my paw

A spider, a fly, and the birds right outside

I do not worry them with trivial matters

Simply greet them with a meows and purrs

In return for pets and pats

From their hunting pouch they pull

A loaf of bread, a carton of milk, and cans of fancy feasts

Yet the time is not nigh

They remove their gear and delve into cleansing waters

A braver soul I know not

Into their magical forge they continue

Aromas of their forage fill the air

I watch on with great pride

And wonder

How such a clumsy giant built this great domain

They are truly my equal

They serve themselves

From the labors of the forge

Finally the time has come

Before they partake

They serve me

From impenetrable containers

Meats from the sea, and the land, and the sky

I celebrate with persistent hoorahs

We dine together

It is glorious

Dusk arrives and we retreat to our chambers

I look back on the time before our kingdom

Days with hunger

Nights without shelter

They are nothing but fleeting memories now

We slumber together

I am surely to be awoken by their gracelessness

But I do not mind

I understand as do they

When I must awaken in the night

And furiously patrol our kingdom

As is my duty

But for now we rest

And prepare for another day of efforts and glory